Skinning-machine.



R. .l. WATSON & E. OZOU-F. SKINNING MACHINE. APPLICATION men JAN. 30.1915.

1,223,129. Patented Apr. 17,1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

- R. J. WATSON & A E. OZOUF.

' SKINNING MACHINE. I APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3 0.1915- 1,223,129, Patented Apr. 17, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3- R. J. WATSON & A. E. OZOUF.

SKINNING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30. 1915.

1,223,129.. Patented Apr.'17, 1917.

E 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

R. J. WATSON & A. E. 0ZOUF.

SKINNING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30,1915.

1,223,129. Putented Apr. 17, 1917 5 $HEETS$HEET 5- EDsTArEs PATENT Oma ROBERT WATSON AND ARTHUR OZOUF, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO THE ALLBRIGHT-NELL COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SKINNING-IMACHINE.

23,12 Specification of Letters Patent. t t 17, 7,

-' 1 Applicationfiled January 30, 1915 Serial No. 5,220.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT J; WATSON and ARTHUR E. OzoUF, citizens of the United States, and residents of the city of Chicago, in the county of (jock and State of Illinois,

' haveinvented certain new anduseful Improvements 1n Sklnning-Machines; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,-and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification, Thls invention relatesto a means for re moving the skin from the fat associated therewith taken from the carcass of a hog. Many machines have been designed hereto fore for this purpose, but the objection thereto has been that the cutting knives have torn and ripped 'the skin, an .occurrence .which, if taking place even momentarily, ruins the hide.

It is essential therefore that the skin be" separated-from. thefat by a mechanism-which precludes such a possibility occurring, and it is with this purpose in view that the present machine has been designed. l y L I It is an object of this invention to construct a machine wherein mechanisms are provided for advancing the fat forwardly into the field of operation of a revolvingknife, which acts to sever the skin from the fat, permitting discharge of each thereof by separnte'means to convenient points for remova It is also anobiect' of'this invention to construct a machine wherein the fat back to be skinned is advanced with the skin surface down by a suitable feeding mechanism along a heated table, and thence into thefield 0f- 7 operation ofsevering mechanisms which actto slice the skin from the fatback, permit--' ting discharge of each thereof into separate compartments. I I

It i also an important object of this in-' vention to construct a machine wherein the fat tobe separated from the skin adhering."

thereto is advanced. upon a suitable internally heated table intothe field of operation of a circular horizontally rotating knife member by suitable advancing mechanism,

heating elements also associated with said advancin mechanism and said knife member insuring a relatively high temperature I in the-field of'operation, so that the severing care of variations in the thickness of the product operated upon. v

. It is finallyflan object of this invention to construct a fat backskinning machine wherein the conveying, supporting and sever1n heating means to maintain the temperature of the product operated upon at a predetermined point, thus greatly facilitating .the operation.

;mechanisms are all associated -with The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings: 7

Figure 1 is atop plan view of a device embodying the principles of our invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view thereof with parts of the mechanisms. omitted,

Fig.3 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1, with parts in elevation. 1 4-. is a elevation on line of Fig. 3.

portion of one end of the machine.

Figt-6 is a fragmentary end view of the:

upper portion chine, Fig. 7 is ,a

at the other end of the mareduced-.-fragmentary side elelongitudinal vertical section taken .through the machine Withparts mvation of the upper portion of the machine with parts omitted.

-Fig. 8 is a detail view of one of the adjustable bearing members for the feeding means.

Fig. 9 is a detail section taken on line 99 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view taken on line 10 -10 of Fig.7.

Fig. 11is a fragmentary end view'of one of the links of the feeding mechanism,

. showing the end of a cross member attached thereon.

Fig. 12 is a section on line 12-42 of Fig.11.

As'shown in the drawings: 1 The field of operation of the machine? is 1 dis posed substantially at ordinary. table height above the floor, and for this purpose a frame is constructed consisting of two unitary side members each comprising .for-

ward and rear-legs 1 and 2,'a side sill memher 3, and a longitudinally extending-horh zonta1= brace member 4, ext'ending from one,

to the other of said legs 1 and 2, as; clearly bracket member 8, is provided.

A lower cross brace member 9,0f angle section is bolted at -the front end of the frame between'the legs 1, of the side mom v bers. Another cross .framemember 11,'isv

, connected between said side members, near the rear end of the frame, andhas formedcross channelbrackets-5 and'6, are adjusting 1 bolts 13, which maybe locked and are pre-' vented from downward movement through said flanges by nuts 14, threaded upon therbolts. Partially supported'upon said bolts;

integral therewith at-the; middle portion thereof two vertically. .aIined bearings 12. Extending upwardly: and rotatably through slots in the upper flange of the respective is a'table 15, which is cored out to afford a heating steam space 16,- and said table, on its under wall, is provided withdownwardly directed interiorly threaded bosses 17, into 7 which said adjustingbolts 13, engage. "Also assisting in supporting said-table15, are

end brackets'18, which are-boltedthrough.

7 the under'surface of the forward'en'd of the table and eiztend'downwardly, andare held, "in position by means of bolts 19, which engage through slots in said brackets 18, and

thread into the crosschannel bracketmem ber5.f: Said tablel5, is provided with side walls 20,- which serve to guide the fat introduced into the .machine, said" side .walls being formed-integral with the table," and extending rearwardly therealong to a point beyond the middle of said table, as clearlyshown in nate" at their ends closely adjacent'pt'o the.

Fig. 4. The cross bracket member 6, is pro- 1 vided with upwardly directed integral extenfsions 21, near each end thereof, and'resting' ..the reupon and bolted theretoare channel lshaped'guide members '22, which are alined parallel with the sidewalls 20, and termi-q ends of said side walls 20, so that the ma-'- terialroperated upon as it passes along the table 15,- movesfrom contact with the guide walls 20,'into contact with the guide walls 22.- At; their other endssaid channel guide members-22, rest upon and are bolted to a' shelf or table niember'23, which is provided withan integral extension 24, cored out to afford a heating steam space 25. Said'she'lf imember23, at its rear end, is supported upon andvbolted to, the rear cross channel bracket member '8. The forward end of said shelf membert' 23, is rounded, and recessed there into is a rounded stripper blade member 26. Journaled in said respective'verticalbearings'12, on the cross frame member 11, is a Lvertioal' shaft 27 and in the lower bearing 12,} a set screw 28, is provided, which bears upwardly beneath a rounded step bearing member 29, .to raise or'lowerjthe shaft as desired.- Secured. upon the upper end of said shaft27, is a cylindrical member 30, having a'hoi'izontal 1 peripheral flange 31, integral therewith, and with web's 32, extending radially inwardly and downwardly and merging into a hub 33;;I Thehub 33, may rest upon the upper end of the upperbearing12, dependent .upoil the adjustment of the bolt or screw 28,-and thecored out extension 24, of the shelf 23,- projects downwardly within said cylindrical member.

v V Secured upon the peripheral flange-31, in any suitable manner is a cutting blade made up of .'a plurality of are shaped sections 34,

" and the arrangement of theparts is such that the stripping bladei on-the-shelf member 23, bears downwardlyin close relation with said cutting blade '-34 but spaced inwardly a small amount from the cutting edge thereof.

'Protecting arc-shaped members 34, are provided on each side 'of'the machine secured to thelower flanges of theguides 22, and extending downwardly around the revolving knife- 34, and disposed within said are I shaped members areheating steam pipes 34 A helical ear 35,is secured upon the ver tical shaft 2%, and is driven by a larger helical gear 36, secured upon a transverse horizontal shaft: .37, -journaled in bearings on each of. the end legs 2, of the frame.

Mounted upon the outer end of said trans verse shaft '37,'at one side of the machine ,are tight and loose pulleys 38 and39, respectively, by which a drive-from any suitable source of powerv is'transmitted to the machine. Secured upon the other end of said shaft 37, is a sprocket wheel 40, and

trained thereabout is a chaint41, which is also trained about a large sprocket wheel 42,

mounted upon ashaft 43,-= extending transversely of the machine-and journaled in an I upright bearing member 44, and other bearing members 44 provided for the purpose ;.on the rear end of the machine, the bearing anember 44, being-bolted'upon oneof the side sills of the frame. At the forward end of the machine on each sidethereof, are two pairs of-uprig'ht are bolted upon said channel side wall guiding membe rs 22, the members of each pair uide members 45, which connected at their upper endsby a cross piece 46'. Slidably mounted loosely between v flexible toothed rack member.

each pair of said uprights 45, as clearly shown in Fig. 8, is a bearing block 47, on the upper side of which bears a coiled compression spring 48, said spring at its other end bearing against a disk or plate on the lower end of an adjusting bolt 49, which is threaded through said cross piece 46, where by the stress on said spring may be varied. Journaled in said bearing blocks 47, is a shaft 50,,and secured thereon near each. end thereof are sprocket wheels 51. Similarly sprocket wheels 52, are secured uponthe Shaft 43, and trained about each pair of sprocket wheels 51 and 52, are chains comprising links 53. Bolted to corresponding links on eaclf'of the chains are cross bars 54, the outer surface of each of which, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 4,. and 12, is longi, tudinally grooved or serrated toafi'ord a plurality of teeth, so that said assembled links and cross bars afford substantially a Each of-said admits steam into the steam space 56, of the -,member 55, and another pipe 62, connected cross bars 54, is provided with transverse grooves near each end which thus afl'ordi continuous longitudinal grooves: 54, -in the r w moves over the rotating knife 34, and over flexible toothed rack member. I A rigid member 55, is supported upon'and between said respective shafts 43and' 50, as

clearly shown in Fig. 4, and is cored out to afford a heating steam space 56, the under surface of said member being flat affording a bearing surface for the under run of the feeding mechanism. Of'course, as pointed out, the blocks 47, fitloosely in the guides 45, in order-that the angularity of the long respective .shafts 43- and 50, between the sprocket wheels thereon, may not cause. said bearing blocks to jam in the guides, due. to the radial movement imposed thereon about the shaft v43.

- recessed for the purpose.

At the rear. end of the machine. a disi knife 34, by loosening the bolts 13, and adcharge chute 57, is provided, which is secured on the under surface of theshelf member 23, the cross bracket member 8, being A cross rod 57, is mounted transversely over the walls of said chute, and. secured thereon are resilient stripper elements 57*, which bear upwardlyv beneath the flexible rack member, engaging in the grooves 54*, thereof to separate the fat having a tendency to' cling thereto. Another dlscharge chute 58, is provided heneath the rear end of the table member 15,

so that the skin which is severed from the fat by the revolving blade34, falls downwardly into said chute andis discharged at a convenient point. A steam inlet pipe 59,

.leads' into the steam space 16, of the table 15, and. another steam pipe 60, leads outwardly therefrom, of course said steam pipes being controlled by suitable valves and provided with flexible connections (not shown) to permit adjustment of said table 15. A. steam pipe inlet 6. provided with -member 55, which is. journaled upon said advance thematerial and as the same moves along the table 15, it is brought in contact with the revolving circular knife 34, which 'revolves horizontally in a plane a trifle above the plane of the table top 15, so that it acts efliciently to sever the skin from the fat; the skin dropping downwardly upon the chute 58. The fat, however, being still in engagement with the advancing tooth mechanlsm,

the inclined edge ofthe stripper blade 26,

23, which is inclined upwardly a slight amount to the discharge chute 57. The table 15, is heated by steam in the steam space 16,

' and, thence rearwardly on the shelf. member thereof, and similarly the shelf member .23,

is heated internally by steam within the compartment 25. Likewise the under run of the feeding mechanism is 1 caused to beat upwardly against the member 55, which is also internally heated.

The table 15, may be'elevated or lowered, as desired, by loosening the bolts 19, and adjusting the bolts 13, and similarly the table may be moved in a horizontal plane for ad justment toward or away from the revolving justing the bolts 19. The revolving knife 34,

may also be adjusted to various horizontal planes ofrotation by; adjustment 'of the small bolt 28, at the bottom of the lower 5 bearing 12, of the shaft 'on which-the revolving knife is secured. The feeding mecha nism for the material acted upon is automatically adjustable, the shaft 50, not only having a pivotal movement about the shaftv 43, due to the interposition of the rigid member 55', between saidshafts ,-but due to the fact also that s'aidjshaft 50, is journaled in bearing blocks 47, which are loosely slidable in vertical guides 45, and normally impelled downwardly by compression spr ngs 48. Due to the fact that the revolving knife is driven from the shaft 27,.whi'ch is in turn driven by the intermeshing helical gears 35 and 36, the latter being-secured upon the shaft 37, which has sprocket and chain connections withthe feeding mechanism, said mechanisms operatesynchronously. As al- &

ready pointed out, the respective steam connections to the various heating elements of struotion may be varied through a wide range without'departing from the principles of our invention, and we therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

-We claim as our. invention: 1. In a machine of the class described, an

' adjustable table to receive material'thereon,

heating elements therein to heat the material, feeding mechanisms for the material, a horizontally rotatable knife adapted to sever a skin from the material fed forwardly on said table by said feeding mechanisms, and means adjusting said table vertically with respect to said knife. l

2. In a device of the class described, a

table, means for adjusting the same vertlcally, feeding means, cleaning members as-- sociated therewith, a horizontally rotatable knife adapted to sever skins from the mate- .rial fed along said table into the machine -'by said feeding means, and means driving said knife and feeding means synchronously.

3. In a machine of the class described, a

horizontally rotatable knife adjustable in various horizontal planes of rotation, automatically adjustable feeding means for feeding material into the fieldvof operation of said knife, and heating elements associated with said knife and with said feeding means and movable therewith adapted to maintain the material at a relatively high temperature in the field of operation of said machine.

4. In a 'device of the class described a horizontally rotatable vertically adjustableknife,adjustable mechanism for feeding ma-,

terial into the field of operation thereof,'and a plurality of heating elements associated with said knife and mechanism and movable therewith to-maintain the material at a predetermined temperature.

5. In a device of the class described, a frame, a knife revolubly mounted thereon, adjustable mechanism feeding material into the field of operation of, said knife, and

means movable therewith for 'heating the material as it moves into and out of the field of said knife.

6. Ina-device of the class described a revoluble knife, automatically adjustable feeding mechanisms to advance the material into the field of operation of said knife, a

'frame, a knife horizontally rotatable therein,

an adjustable table to receive the material to be acted upon, heating elements therein, and

- movable therewith, mechanisms for feeding" said material along said table into the field of operation of said knife, and means heating said feeding mechanlsms.

8. In a device of the class described adjustable cutting mechanism, automatically adjustable feeding means adapted to feed material into the field of operation of said cutting mechanism, and heating elements associated with said cutting mechanism and with said feeding means and movable therewith adapted to maintain the material operated upon at a predetermined temperature in the field of operation of the machine.

9. In a machine of the class described, a frame, a vertical shaft mountedtherein, an adjustable feeding table on said frame, means therein for heating the same, a revoluble cutting knife mounted on said shaft and rotated thereby, means adjusting said shaft Vertically to change the plane of rotation of said knife, pivotally mounted feeding mechanism adapted to convey the material from said feeding table into the field of.operation of said knife, and a plurality of heating elements associated with said feeding mechanism and with said cutting j knife for heating the material operated upon. 4

10. In a machine of the class described a frame, a vertical shaft mounted therein, a

horizontally rotatable knife mounted on the upper end thereof and rotated thereby, means. adjusting. said shaft vertically to change the plane ofrotation of said knife, a conveying mechanism mounted on the upper end of the machine adapted to move material into the field of operation of said knife, meansfor cleaning the same, one end of said conveying" mechanism adjustably mounted-to automaticaly adapt said mechanism for operation on material of different 5 thicknesses, and a plurality of heating elements movable with said knifeand with said conveying mechanism to heat the material operated upon, said cleaning means mounted on said frame to contact said con- 12 veying' mechanism. Y

11. In a machine of the class described a frame, a cutting knife-;.horizontally rotatable therein, 'means adjusting said knife vertically into varioushorizontal planes of rota- 128 tion, a feeding table, heating meanstherefor,

means adjusting the table vertically with respect to said knife, a continuous link feeding mechanism disposed above said table and knife to move material from said table into 130 the field of operation of said knife, and heating elements disposed adjacent said knife and over which the material operated upon is caused to pass. and another heating element mounted beneath the lower run of said feeding mechanism to heatthe same and the material operated thereon therebeneath.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names in the presence of two subscribing wltnesses.

ROBERT J. WATSON. ARTHUR E. OZOUF.

'Witnesses:

CHARLES WV. HILLS, J r., FRANK K. HUDSON. 

